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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (March 29, 2004)
An independent newspaper http://www.dailyemerald.com Monday, March 29,2004 Since 1900 University of Oregon Eugene, Oregon Volume 105, Issue 121 Burst water main floods campus streets EWEB workers shut off water valves for residence halls to prevent further damage By Moriah Balingit News Reporter A city water main at the intersection of East 15th Avenue and Agate Street burst Sunday morning for an unknown reason, causing a deluge of murky wa ter down both streets and flooding the walkways around Walton Complex and Carson Hall. Students residing in Walton and Hamilton complexes, who were return ing Sunday from spring break, were un able to use water or restrooms in those buildings. At its highest point, the water was nearly a foot and a half deep in front of Douglass Hall, located in Walton Complex. University Housing Director Mike Eyster said a garbage truck driver report ed the problem at around 9:40 a.m., when the driver saw water leaking out of cracks in the street. Eyster said he thinks the water main likely broke shortly before the call was made. Eyster himself discovered the disaster on his way to church. "I was coming by ... just about 10 o'clock and there was a very heavy flow of water," he said. "Everywhere you see the street cracked you could see water gushing up." Sophomore pre-joumalism major Trevor Atkins said he and his brother were some of the first people on the scene. "We were crossing the street... and all of the sudden we saw this river of water in front," he said. "The road had fractured at the intersection in probably three different places." The two alerted housing staff of the flood and assisted staff members in moving their cars. ^ Turn to FLOOD, page 6 Erik R. Bishoff Photographer A broken water main at the intersection of East 15th Avenue and Agate Street flooded the nearby area Sunday morning resulting in a loss of water service to a number of residence halls. Water valves were also turned off for many science halls, includin^Willamette. Kucinich speaks at LCC The Democratic presidential hopeful urged participation in the May 18 primary By Chelsea Duncan Senior News Reporter Rainbow flags calling for peace and global justice dotted a large crowd at Lane Community College on Sunday, where hundreds gathered to hear De mocratic presidential candidate Den nis Kucinich speak on issues of social justice and political change. The often overlooked candidate and Ohio congressman stopped by the college on his tour through the state to encourage Oregonians to vote in the primary election on May 18. Kucinich acknowledged that though the Democratic nomination may be a "forgone conclusion" deter mined by other states' primaries, Ore gon voters have the chance to influ ence the Democratic Party's direction throughout the election process. "The issues which are going to frame the debate in 2004 are going to be decided here because you happen to be at the end of the primary cycle," he told the crowd. "(The Democratic Party) needs to represent the broad based concerns of the American peo ple if it has any chance or hope to win the White House." Kucinich, who may be lacking in stature but not in charisma, often drew bouts of applause, laughter and many standing ovations as he revved up the crowd with his ideas of univer sal health care, progressive taxing and world peace. He emphasized the importance of Turn to KUCINICH, page 8 Same-sex marriage test case gains steam, heads for court Benton County halts all marriages and Multnomah County continues to offer licenses to gay couples By Parker Howell News Reporter Confusion about the constitutionality of Oregon marriage statutes has prompted vari ous counties to adopt different practices in issuing marriage licenses. Multnomah County continues to grant mar riage licenses to same-sex couples, while on March 22 the Benton County Board of Commissioners postponed its decision to grant same-sex marriage licenses, opting instead to cease issuing licenses to all couples until the Supreme Court rules. They may not have long to wait. Opponents and supporters of same-sex mar riage in Oregon are one step closer to getting a definitive judgment on the legality of same-sex marriage in Oregon. Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Frank Bearden on Friday cleared the way to speedily bring the issue before the Oregon Supreme Court when he ruled that 14 Republican state legislators could not directly participate in a lawsuit questioning the legality of same-sex marriages. Bearden denied the legislators' motion, saying Turn to MARRIAGES, page 4 The daughter of Becky Kennedy (left) and Mary Li looks on while wedding guests cheer as her mothers seal their nuptials with a kiss. On March 3, Multnomah County began distributing marriage licenses to same-sex couples for the first time in Oregon's history. Erik R. Bishoff Photographer WtA ! HfZR 45 70 Campus buzz.6 Crossword.15 Classifieds.14 Nation & World.5 Commentary.2 Sports.9 NElM'T iSMtJf A closer look at the University Men’s Center
